“Mike”


    Akane might be considered a “boring” person to some people’s standards. I’m sure to those people my naming abilities are repulsive, to say the least.


    – Takaya, that’s a name you would give to a cat. Your pet is a wolf. You know, something more akin to a dog.


    – I know, but I couldn’t come up with anything better.


    I actually gave it some serious thought. I even thought about “Pochi”, which is a bit more dog-like.


    That was a popular name back in the old world.


    Even if it’s basic, I thought she’d like it.


    But then it hit me.


    She’s a girl.


    Pochi is a name for male dogs.


    It would be awful of me to name her that.


    So I kept thinking.


    If not Pochi, what else?


    I’ve seen dogs named foreigner things like John and Mary. The mental image I have is them walking around the city with their poop hanging from behind. I don’t think that applies to this girl.


    With such stupidities in mind, I finally realized.


    “Ah, of course. Mike!”


    Mike would be perfect. It’s not something bad, and it fits a girl.


    So I decided to go with that.


    It wasn’t until Akane mentioned it that I realized “Mike” is more of a cat name.


    – Takaya… You are… Very disappointing.


    – I completely understand.


    I was about to ask Akane to choose a name herself.


    – Mike… Is that my name?


    – Yes. Well, we haven’t decided yet.


    But the dog herself seemed pretty happy about it.


    – Mike… Mi ke… I like it. If the master chose it, then I like it. Mike.


    – You like it?


    – Yeah!


    Her face had a wide smile.


    I hadn’t noticed, but her tail is wagging and her ears are folding and opening in excitement.


    I thought I was jumping the gun, but it seems like we found the perfect name.


    Mike, the wolf, totally not a cat.


    – By the way, Akane-san.


    – What now?


    – I was wondering what name you would’ve given her.


    I wanted to know what magnificent names she could’ve come up with.


    – Why are you asking? We’ve already moved on from the topic.


    – No no, madame. You said I was a disappointment, so I would like to know what your idea was. I need samples to learn, after all.


    – Gh…


    – Well then, Akane-san?


    – FINE. You get so hung up on such pointless matters.


    Akane turned to Mike and frowned.


    It took her some time, but she eventually muttered:


    – Uhh… Perhaps… Pomegranate.


    – Pomegranate? (Takaya)


    – … (Takaya & Mike)


    Complete silence.


    – Whatever! We’re done with this conversation!


    – …Sure.


    – You two are weird, haha. (Mike)


    Mike, the wolf girl we nursed back to normal, laughed at the two apprentices.